Packing container and cushioning member

ABSTRACT

A packing container includes a packing container body having an opening, and a cushioning member provided in the packing container body. The cushioning member includes a cushioning-member body portion, and a pushing portion that pushes a packing object toward a side of the opening.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-180372 filed Sep. 14, 2015.

BACKGROUND Technical Field

The present invention relates to a packing container and to a cushioning member.

Summary

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a packing container that includes a packing container body having an opening, and a cushioning member provided in the packing container body. The cushioning member includes a cushioning-member body portion, and a pushing portion that pushes a packing object toward a side of the opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a right side sectional view of a packing container according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a packing container body included in the packing container illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a first perspective view of a cushioning member included in the packing container illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a second perspective view of the cushioning member illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates the cushioning member illustrated in FIG. 3 that is under fabrication;

FIG. 6 illustrates a method of packing a packing object into the packing container illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 illustrates a method of taking the packing object out of the packing container illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a cushioning member included in a packing container according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates the cushioning member illustrated in FIG. 8 that is under fabrication; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a method of taking the packing object out of the packing container according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a packing container 10 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention that is placed on a placement surface 910. The packing container 10 is used for packing a packing object 900. Examples of the packing object 900 include accessories, consumables, communications devices, electrical appliances, and so forth that are intended for image forming apparatuses that form images by various methods such as an electrophotographic method and an inkjet method.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the packing container 10 includes a packing container body 100 and a cushioning member 200. The packing container body 100 has an opening 102 at the top thereof. A packing object 900 is put into a space S, which is provided in the packing container body 100, through the opening 102 and is taken out of the space S of the packing container body 100 through the opening 102. The packing container body 100 is made of, for example, cardboard. Specifically, the packing container body 100 is a structure in which, for example, a sheet of corrugated paper is held between two other sheets of paper that are bonded to the front and back sides, respectively, thereof.

The cushioning member 200 is placed in the packing container body 100 when used. The cushioning member 200 supports the packing object 900 in the space S of the packing container body 100 from the lower side in the direction of gravity. In the state where the cushioning member 200 is placed in the packing container body 100, a gap is provided between the cushioning member 200 and a bottom portion 112 of the packing container body 100. The cushioning member 200 absorbs vibrations or an impact applied to the packing container body 100 from the outside, thereby reducing the vibrations or the impact transmitted to the packing object 900. The cushioning member 200 is made of cardboard, as with the packing container body 100. Details of the cushioning member 200 will be described later.

FIG. 2 illustrates the packing container body 100. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the packing container body 100 includes a housing portion 110 that provides the space S, and a lid portion 160. The housing portion 110 includes the bottom portion 112. The housing portion 110 further includes a front side portion 114, a rear side portion 116, a right side portion 118, and a left side portion 122. The foregoing portions together define the space S.

The packing container body 100 further includes a right flap portion 126 and a left flap portion 128. The right flap portion 126 is movable about the right side portion 118 between a position where the opening 102 (see FIG. 1) is fully opened and a position where a part of the opening 102 is covered. The left flap portion 128 is movable about the left side portion 122 between a position where the opening 102 (see FIG. 1) is fully opened and a position where a part of the opening 102 is covered.

The packing container body 100 further includes a retaining portion 140 that retains the lid portion 160 at a closed position. The retaining portion 140 includes a latch 142 provided on the front side portion 114, and a receiving hole 144 that receives the latch 142. The receiving hole 144 is provided in a projecting portion 146 projecting from the lid portion 160. When the lid portion 160 is closed, the receiving hole 144 is positioned for receiving the latch 142.

The lid portion 160 is continuous with the bottom portion 112 and has a crease 162 extending laterally. A part of the lid portion 160 that is on the front side with respect to the crease 162 is movable relative to the bottom portion 112. A part of the lid portion 160 that is on the rear side with respect to the crease 162 is movable relative to the part of the lid portion 160 that is on the front side with respect to the crease 162. The lid portion 160 is generally movable between a position where the opening 102 (see FIG. 1) is opened as illustrated in FIG. 2 and a position where the opening 102 is covered (not illustrated).

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the cushioning member 200. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cushioning member 200 includes a cushioning-member body portion 210 and a pushing portion 290. The cushioning-member body portion 210 includes a bottom part 212, a front cushioning part 220, two rear cushioning parts 230, a right cushioning part 240, and a left cushioning part 250.

The front cushioning part 220 is formed by folding a front end part of the cushioning-member body portion 210 along two parallel lines in opposite directions. When the cushioning member 200 is fitted in the packing container body 100, the front cushioning part 220 is in contact with the front side portion 114 of the packing container body 100. The two rear cushioning parts 230 are formed by folding two rear end parts, respectively, of the cushioning-member body portion 210 individually along two parallel lines in opposite directions. When the cushioning member 200 is fitted in the packing container body 100, the rear cushioning parts 230 are each in contact with the rear side portion 116 of the packing container body 100.

The right cushioning part 240 is formed by folding a right end part of the cushioning-member body portion 210 along two parallel lines in opposite directions. When the cushioning member 200 is fitted in the packing container body 100, the right cushioning part 240 is in contact with the right side portion 118 of the packing container body 100. The left cushioning part 250 is formed by folding a left end part of the cushioning-member body portion 210 along two parallel lines in opposite directions. When the cushioning member 200 is fitted in the packing container body 100, the left cushioning part 250 is in contact with the left side portion 122 of the packing container body 100.

The pushing portion 290 pushes the packing object 900 toward the side of the opening 102. The pushing portion 290 is separate from the cushioning-member body portion 210 with, for example, two cuts 292 extending parallel to each other so that the pushing portion 290 is movable relative to the cushioning-member body portion 210. The pushing portion 290 is continuous with the cushioning-member body portion 210 at a part that connects the respective ends of the two cuts 292 to each other. Thus, the pushing portion 290 is integrated with the cushioning-member body portion 210. At least a part of the pushing portion 290 is positioned on a side of the packing object 900 that is opposite the side of the opening 102 in the state where the packing object 900 is set in the packing container body 100. That is, the opening 102 is on the upper side with respect to the packing object 900 in the direction of gravity, whereas at least a part of the pushing portion 290 is on the lower side with respect to the packing object 900.

The cushioning member 200 further includes a grip portion 294. The grip portion 294 is continuous with the pushing portion 290 and is gripped by a worker when the worker moves the pushing portion 290. The grip portion 294 is positioned on the side of the opening 102 with respect to the packing object 900. That is, as with the opening 102 that is on the upper side with respect to the packing object 900 in the direction of gravity, the grip portion 294 is on the upper side with respect to the packing object 900 in the direction of gravity (see FIG. 1).

Normally, the pushing portion 290 is at the position illustrated in FIG. 3. When the pushing portion 290 is lifted upward by the worker by, for example, pulling up the grip portion 294, the pushing portion 290 is moved upward as illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 illustrates the cushioning member 200 that is under fabrication. The cushioning member 200 is fabricated by folding one sheet-like or substantially sheet-like member 202, such as a sheet of cardboard, illustrated in FIG. 5 at predetermined folding parts. More specifically, a sheet of cardboard or the like is processed by cutting or by any other way into the sheet-like or substantially sheet-like member 202 that is shaped as illustrated in FIG. 5. Subsequently, two cuts 292 mentioned above are made into the sheet-like or substantially sheet-like member 202, and the sheet-like or substantially sheet-like member 202 now having the cuts 292 is folded at predetermined folding parts. Thus, the cushioning member 200 is obtained.

Broken lines illustrated in FIG. 5 represent lines for valley folds to be made in the fabrication of the cushioning member 200, and dash-dot lines illustrated in FIG. 5 represent lines for mountain folds to be made in the fabrication of the cushioning member 200. At least two of the steps of cutting the cardboard, making the cuts 292, and folding at the predetermined folding parts may be performed simultaneously. For example, by using a pressing machine, all of the steps of cutting the cardboard, making the cuts 292, and folding at the predetermined folding parts may be performed simultaneously.

FIG. 6 illustrates a method of packing the packing object 900 into the packing container 10. The packing object 900 is packed into the packing container 10 as follows, for example. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the packing container body 100 is first placed on the placement surface 910 (see FIG. 1), and the cushioning member 200 is fitted into the packing container body 100 through the opening 102 from the upper side in the direction of gravity, for example. Then, the packing object 900 is placed on the cushioning member 200, which is now fitted in the packing container body 100, from the upper side in the direction of gravity, for example. Subsequently, the right flap portion 126 and the left flap portion 128 are moved to the respective positions for covering the opening 102. Furthermore, the lid portion 160 is moved in such a manner as to close the opening 102. Then, the latch 142 of the retaining portion 140 is inserted into the receiving hole 144 of the retaining portion 140 so that the lid portion 160 is retained at the position where the lid portion 160 closes the opening 102.

FIG. 7 illustrates a method of taking the packing object 900 out of the packing container 10. The packing object 900 is taken out of the packing container 10 as follows. First, the worker opens the lid portion 160, the right flap portion 126, and the left flap portion 128. Subsequently, the worker grips the grip portion 294 and moves the pushing portion 290 toward the side of the opening 102, i.e., toward the upper side in the direction of gravity. In this step, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the pushing portion 290 pushes the packing object 900 toward the side of the opening 102.

More specifically, the pushing portion 290 pushes up the rear side (the right side in FIG. 7) of the packing object 900, thereby changing the orientation of the packing object 900. Thus, the packing object 900 is moved such that at least a part of the packing object 900 goes outside the packing container body 100. Subsequently, the worker grabs the part of the packing object 900 that is now on the outside of the packing container body 100, and the worker takes the packing object 900 out of the packing container 10.

In general, if there is not enough space between the packing container and the packing object, it is difficult to take the packing object out of the packing container, because, for example, it is difficult for the worker to put his/her hand into the packing container so as to grab the packing object. In contrast, if the size of the space between the packing container and the packing object is increased, the packing container becomes large, although it makes easier to take out the packing object. In the case of the packing container 10 according to the first exemplary embodiment, the packing object 900 is pushed to the outside of the packing container body 100 by moving the pushing portion 290 so that the worker is allowed to grab the packing object 900 from the outside of the packing container 10, even if there is not enough space between the packing object 900 and the packing container body 100 for the worker to put his/her hand for taking the packing object 900 out of the packing container body 100. Therefore, if the packing container 10 according to the first exemplary embodiment is used, the space for taking out the packing object 900 becomes smaller than in a case where the packing container does not include the pushing portion 290 that pushes the packing object 900 toward the side of the opening 102.

While the first exemplary embodiment concerns a case where the pushing portion 290 is provided on the rear side of the cushioning-member body portion 210, the pushing portion 290 may be provided on the front side of the cushioning-member body portion 210. Moreover, the pushing portion 290 may be provided on the right side of the cushioning-member body portion 210 or on the left side of the cushioning-member body portion 210.

FIG. 8 illustrates a cushioning member 200 included in a packing container 10 according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The cushioning member 200 of the packing container 10 according to the first exemplary embodiment includes one pushing portion 290. The cushioning member 200 according to the second exemplary embodiment includes plural pushing portions 290, more specifically, two pushing portions 290. One of the two pushing portions 290 is provided on the rear side of the cushioning-member body portion 210, as in the first exemplary embodiment. The other of the two pushing portions 290 is provided on the front side of the cushioning-member body portion 210. That is, the two pushing portions 290 are provided on two respective sides of the cushioning member 200 that are opposite each other. Since one of the pushing portions 290 is provided on the front side of the cushioning-member body portion 210, two front cushioning parts 220 are provided on the right and left sides, respectively, of the front pushing portion 290.

Instead of providing two pushing portions 290 on two respective sides of the cushioning member 200 that are opposite each other, two pushing portions 290 may be provided on two respective sides of the cushioning member 200 that meet each other, for example, on the rear side and on the right side of the cushioning-member body portion 210 or on the front side and on the left side of the cushioning-member body portion 210. Moreover, instead of providing two pushing portions 290 as the plural pushing portions 290 to the cushioning member 200, three or four pushing portions 290 may be provided to the cushioning member 200.

In the second exemplary embodiment, all of the plural pushing portions 290 are each desirably provided with the grip portion 294.

FIG. 9 illustrates the cushioning member 200 according to the second exemplary embodiment that is under fabrication. The cushioning member 200 according to the second exemplary embodiment is also fabricated by folding one sheet-like or substantially sheet-like member 202, such as a sheet of cardboard, at predetermined folding parts, as in the first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates a method of taking the packing object 900 out of the packing container 10 according to the second exemplary embodiment. The packing object 900 is taken out as follows. First, the worker opens the lid portion 160, the right flap portion 126, and the left flap portion 128, and the worker grips the front grip portion 294 with his/her right hand, for example, and the rear grip portion 294 with his/her left hand, for example. Then, the worker moves the front grip portion 294, the front pushing portion 290, the rear grip portion 294, the rear pushing portion 290, and thus the packing object 900 toward the side of the opening 102, i.e., toward the upper side in the direction of gravity.

If the packing container 10 according to the second exemplary embodiment is used, the packing object 900 is pushed out by the two pushing portions 290. Therefore, the inclination of the packing object 900 at the time of taking out the packing object 900 becomes smaller than in the case of the packing container 10 that includes one pushing portion 290 (see FIG. 7).

As described above, the present invention is applicable to a packing container and to a cushioning member.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A packing container comprising: a packing container body having an opening; and a cushioning member provided in the packing container body, wherein the cushioning member includes a cushioning-member body portion; and a pushing portion that pushes a packing object toward a side of the opening.
 2. The packing container according to claim 1, further comprising: a grip portion to be gripped when the pushing portion is operated, wherein the grip portion is provided on the side of the opening with respect to the packing object.
 3. The packing container according to claim 1, wherein the pushing portion is integrated with the cushioning-member body portion.
 4. The packing container according to claim 1, wherein the cushioning member remains in the packing container body even after the pushing portion pushes out the packing object and the packing object is taken out of the packing container body.
 5. The packing container according to claim 1, wherein the cushioning member is made of one substantially sheet-like member that is folded at a predetermined folding part.
 6. The packing container according to claim 1, wherein the pushing portion is one of a plurality of pushing portions.
 7. A cushioning member provided in a packing container body having an opening, the cushioning member comprising: a cushioning-member body portion; and a pushing portion that pushes a packing object toward a side of the opening. 